Soon, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will hit theaters and deliver a proper conclusion to a saga that began all the way back in 1977's A New Hope. For that reason, you might be tempted to sit down for a proper Star Wars marathon to get ready for the release of the highly anticipated J.J. Abrams film.
Last year, the chronology of these Star Wars marathons was altered with the release of Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story. The film, which tells the origin of scruffy-looking nerf-herder Han Solo, takes place a few years before the events of Episode IV.
Therefore, a proper marathon now has fans asking to watch Solo before A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And if you do so, then you will notice something truly special: Ron Howard's interlude between the prequels and the Original Trilogy changes the way you see Han Solo, and how he interacts with certain characters. Solo: A Star Wars Story may not be the biggest or most popular Star Wars film, but that's wholly unfortunate because it does nothing but enrich the original trilogy.
When watching Solo in its chronological place in the series, it completely changes a viewer's perception of the title character. Yes, there was a certain aura of mystique to him in the original trilogy, but his origin film amazingly doesn't take away from it—instead, it gives context that deepens his character, makes him more relatable and makes us root for him even more than we did before. Now that we know (part of) what he went through to become the scoundrel that he is, we just don't see Han in the same way when he first arrives on the scene in the Mos Eisley Cantina.
What's more, Solo strengthens the bond between Han and Chewbacca so much that it makes their relationship even more meaningful. After the events of Solo, we know the pair have been through hell and back together, and just why they are willing to lay their lives on the line for each other. It's no longer just an abstract idea of an ideal friendship—it's a palpable relationship. The duo's interactions in the original trilogy take on a new meaning, as their friendship is only made deeper by having us know how they met, and how they became an inseparable duo.
And it doesn't stop there, as Solo: A Star Wars Story also has a massive effect on The Empire Strikes Back. Now that we know how Han and Lando met in the first place, their reunion on Cloud City in Episode V isn't the same anymore. Before, we had an idea of the old rivalry between the two characters, but now we know exactly what went down, and the answers provide not only context, but a real sense of shared history.
Lando cheating his way into a victorious game of Sabacc, Han taking the reins of the Falcon (then destroying it), and the inevitable rematch at the end of the film all contribute to making Han's return to Cloud City that much richer.
Plus, Solo's contributions may even continue into The Rise of Skywalker. Now that we know how Lando lost the Falcon and why it meant such a great deal to him, it will make his return in the cockpit (already teased in the film's trailers) that much more meaningful. With Han now gone, Lando and Chewie are back in the Falcon to conclude the epic Skywalker saga.
If you have yet to watch Solo: A Star Wars Story, or if you aren't certain it's worth a rewatch, do yourself a favor and add it to your pre-The Rise of Skywalker marathon. It will change the way you see the rest of the films—for the better.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.